Baselworld is only a few weeks away. Getting the latest news is easy, Click Here for info on how to join the Watchuseek.com newsletter list. Follow our team for updates featuring event coverage, new product unveilings, watch industry news & more!

1) If I have motionflow on standard but play a blu ray where it shows 1080p/24f will the 24f override the standard motionflow setting?

2) if I turn motionflow off is it only refreshing at 60hz or is it still refreshing at 120hz?

Thanks

1) If motionflow is enabled, it works regardless of the content, meaning it's applying motion interpolation whether it's broadcast TV or a blu-ray film.

2) All TVs refresh at their native framerate i.e. it's independent of interpolation. A 120hz TV always refreshes at 120hz - it will display each frame of a 60fps source twice, each frame of a 24fps source 5 times to achieve 120hz, etc... motionflow simply applies interpolation between frames to 'smooth' out the motion, instead of repeating the exact frame.

The technology of LCD/LED screens is way different than the old CRT screens. Film is naturally juddery with its 24 frames-per-second rate and these new screens are showing it full-on - and at screen sizes unheard of in the CRT days. So the smoothing technology attempts to rectify it, but it gives films a Soap Opera look - as if it were shot on videotape with its near-live motions.

It's one of those damned if you do or damned if you don't situations. You fix the judder of film by turning the motion technology on, and you have to live with film not looking like film anymore.

Try leaving the settings one way or another and try to get used to it.

Harry

As you know, the issue is far more complicated than that. LCD's need to defeat the sample-and-hold nature of the display to reduce the persistence. That persistence causes a smear against the retina (motion blur). Even if you had no interpolation at all, with pulse technology a 24 fps viewing can be very comfortable to watch. Interpolation serves two purposes: it provides a fake higher frame rate to reduce the strobe effect of items flying across the screen, but it most importantly reduces the persistence of any given frame. But even then it's not enough: unless that interpolation rate is unGodly high (not currently achievable), a pulse mechanism is required.

Cogito ergo sum makes a fundamental mistake because it ignores the implied existence of the narrator. Descartes might as well have said "A rose is red, therefore I am".

1) If motionflow is enabled, it works regardless of the content, meaning it's applying motion interpolation whether it's broadcast TV or a blu-ray film.

2) All TVs refresh at their native framerate i.e. it's independent of interpolation. A 120hz TV always refreshes at 120hz - it will display each frame of a 60fps source twice, each frame of a 24fps source 5 times to achieve 120hz, etc... motionflow simply applies interpolation between frames to 'smooth' out the motion, instead of repeating the exact frame.

It says it's Motionflow XR240...but what's the true refresh rate with all the enhancements off.

60hz or 120hz?

Confusing question. Here's why.

With everything "off", the R550A will faithfully reproduce inputs of 24p/30i/30p/60i and 60p directly frame for frame at 1080.

Note: as an aside, the R550A also has the ability to take 1080p120 in, and will display it in the corner, but will discard frames ("frame dropping" or "frame discarding" are a couple terms you'll see about this with TVs). To get 120 actually output you'll have to drop the input feed to 720p, then you'll get 720p120 out.

Given the inputs of 24p/30i/30p/60i/60p, adding interpolation will raise the output to 120. No one has reported yet what that means for each individual rate. For instance, it's unclear if 30i goes to 120p or 120i. It's also unclear if there is any native interlaced output at all or if everything becomes line-doubled on the way out.

On top of this rate, there is a pulse mechanism (which is the reason for all TVs to have numbers that say things like "motionflow" instead of "refresh rate" nowadays). It's no joke---this is the best way to mitigate motion blur.

Now all this aside, I'm still after all of this time unclear which of the settings turns on interpolation without pulse, pulse without interpolation, (if separating them is even possible), and what the true details are of any of the advanced settings on Sony's.

Cogito ergo sum makes a fundamental mistake because it ignores the implied existence of the narrator. Descartes might as well have said "A rose is red, therefore I am".

Sony called me today and offered to replace my 11 month old 70R550A with a W850B for $250. In doing some research it seems like the 850 has a few upgrades that effect my main desire, the best picture quality possible. I hate to give up Passive for Active 3D, especially since CNET felt the 850's 3D was really bad. So bad that they contacted Sony and expects a software upgrade. The 850 uses the X-Reality Pro engine and a more matted screen. According to CNET's review the 850 gets better black levels and does provide a better picture than the R550A. I don't expect you to tell me what to do but I would like to know what you would do. Thanks, Andy

Sony called me today and offered to replace my 11 month old 70R550A with a W850B for $250. In doing some research it seems like the 850 has a few upgrades that effect my main desire, the best picture quality possible. I hate to give up Passive for Active 3D, especially since CNET felt the 850's 3D was really bad. So bad that they contacted Sony and expects a software upgrade. The 850 uses the X-Reality Pro engine and a more matted screen. According to CNET's review the 850 gets better black levels and does provide a better picture than the R550A. I don't expect you to tell me what to do but I would like to know what you would do. Thanks, Andy

I don't understand why you should have to pay for your replacement. Your TV is still under the factory warranty right? SONY sent me a 70R520A last week to replace my 60R550A and I didn't even request a bigger more expensive TV. I refused that TV and now they're sending me a 60W850B for no additional charge. If I were you, I'd tell them that they don't deserve a dime more than what you already paid for your TV.

Sony called me today and offered to replace my 11 month old 70R550A with a W850B for $250. In doing some research it seems like the 850 has a few upgrades that effect my main desire, the best picture quality possible. I hate to give up Passive for Active 3D, especially since CNET felt the 850's 3D was really bad. So bad that they contacted Sony and expects a software upgrade. The 850 uses the X-Reality Pro engine and a more matted screen. According to CNET's review the 850 gets better black levels and does provide a better picture than the R550A. I don't expect you to tell me what to do but I would like to know what you would do. Thanks, Andy

3d on the 550a is awesome. However I hardly use 3d so I would take the upgrade for the better blacks and xreality pro engine.
The new look is better too.

I wonder if there is anything you can do to get them to lower the $250 cost for upgrade.

3d on the 550a is awesome. However I hardly use 3d so I would take the upgrade for the better blacks and xreality pro engine.
The new look is better too.

I wonder if there is anything you can do to get them to lower the $250 cost for upgrade.

I'm certainly going to question them regarding the $250 exchange price even though I'll pay it if I have to. My feeling is that the TV is under warranty and they have already agreed that it's flawed and cannot be fixed. I doubt that their warranty paperwork mentions a replacement cost if the TV is under it's factory warranty. As of today on the Sony web site the 70R550A is listed as available for $2249 and the 70W850B is available for @2299. My wife thinks they are just trying to cover the shipping cost by calling it an exchange price. Tomorrow I will ask them who decided on this $250 price and an explanation for it. If I have to pay it I'll make very very certain that they know that I'm not happy about it.

I just looked at the picture of the 850B on Amazon. They actually decided to put the screen support legs all the way on the edges! Wow, this not only looks strange; Many who have stands that are not full width will need to buy another stand.

I just looked at the picture of the 850B on Amazon. They actually decided to put the screen support legs all the way on the edges! Wow, this not only looks strange; Many who have stands that are not full width will need to buy another stand.

You also have the option of placing the legs in a middle position. Kudos to Sony for realizing not everyone have these gigantic stands lurking around their home.

I just looked at the picture of the 850B on Amazon. They actually decided to put the screen support legs all the way on the edges! Wow, this not only looks strange; Many who have stands that are not full width will need to buy another stand.

You also have the option of placing the legs in a middle position. Kudos to Sony for realizing not everyone have these gigantic stands lurking around their home.

I was just looking through the pictures and trying to figure out if that was really the case. I can't figure out how they did it if so. Look at this diagram:

The supports would push upward into the screen itself, no? Overall this wedge design is a little weird....I still find it jarring.

Cogito ergo sum makes a fundamental mistake because it ignores the implied existence of the narrator. Descartes might as well have said "A rose is red, therefore I am".

Hoping to see if someone can answer a question. For some reason, anytime I setup the picture settings, it will keep switching back to Vovid after a few minutes. I have tried to Reset, but it's still doing it. My wife switched it to Vivid, but I can't seem to get it off of it.

Hey Andy I was charged the same price to upgrade from my 70R550A ..but I upgraded to the S990A the curved screen I know it is only a 65 inch but in my case and viewing distance the 65 is just fine by me ..it has passive 3d and the X-Reality Pro Engine as well as the Tri-Luminos and a deep black panel and I will say the picture is fantastic! The TriLuminos really makes a difference and the curve is barely noticable

Obviously you must feel thar sacrificing 5 inches is a good trade off. Maybe i should also feel that way. Isn''t the S990a a more expensive TV? I've heard good things about the Tri-Luminous panel. Any other opinions would be appreciated.

The extra 5 inches I had with the 70 was actually too big for my room and viewing area and after watching this set for about 3 weeks I really don't notice the difference..yes the S990A is a bit more expensive but it is only about 200 more than the W850B at 2499..One of the biggest advantages of this set over the 70 is the speakers..The Surround effect I think is really good for the TV's speakers and makes a nice compliment to an AV receiver which I also have.. I use the TV'S speakers late at nite when I can't turn on the AV receiver and wake the rest of my building

I'm not sure what I should do here. I've had the 70" 550a for about a yrs. I still plays great and all. EXCEPT. Seams the white blobs are really starting to show. I played with the settings last night. Didn't seam to be able to help it any. I must say as long as its a full screen movie or show, I don't notice it. But if I have the side or upper/lower black bands, (not full screen) then I notice it.

I bought the tv from Costco, with the added warranty and all. I just don't know if its worth even doing anything about. Not to mention it hangs on a wall. I no longer have the box. I'm also disabled so i'd have to have someone help. BLa Bla BLa....

I guess as long as it don't get worse. I don't know.....

Then I see some of you guys getting new better TV's. For a small fee....

Anyone know if there's a way to get the R550A to automatically detect that a 3D SBS MKV is a 3D signal? The video is being played via a WDTV Live. I can manually enable 3D, but the WDTV navigation options that pop up are then displayed incorrectly.

I'm not sure what I should do here. I've had the 70" 550a for about a yrs. I still plays great and all. EXCEPT. Seams the white blobs are really starting to show. I played with the settings last night. Didn't seam to be able to help it any. I must say as long as its a full screen movie or show, I don't notice it. But if I have the side or upper/lower black bands, (not full screen) then I notice it.

I bought the tv from Costco, with the added warranty and all. I just don't know if its worth even doing anything about. Not to mention it hangs on a wall. I no longer have the box. I'm also disabled so i'd have to have someone help. BLa Bla BLa....

I guess as long as it don't get worse. I don't know.....

Then I see some of you guys getting new better TV's. For a small fee....

Make me wonder even more...

Call Sony customer service even if it's more than a year old. By added warranty do you mean the extended warranty from Square Trade?

By the way, I did question the $250 charge to replace my 70r550a. The conversation was kind of funny. I asked why the charge and was told the 850B was an upgrade. I said that I considered it a downgrade since I wanted Passive and had to take Active in return. I told him that I was fine if they replaced it with another 550a. Can't do that, we don't have any. I said I'd wait till they did. Won't be making the 550 any longer. So my 550 is still under warranty and you can't replace it with another one and you can ONLY replace it with a 850 but I have to pay $250. Well, we can give you 75% of your purchase price back but you'll lose your sales tax and delivery charge. OK, here's my credit card number.